Chapter Text
It was a normal day at the monastery.
Years had passed since Lloyd had lost control and transformed into an Oni. Somehow, against all odds, things had settled again. The wounds hadn’t disappeared completely, but they had healed enough for life to move forward. The team had grown stronger—closer. And for the first time in a long while, everything felt… steady.
Jay was back.
That alone had changed everything.
With him there again—laughing too loudly, talking too fast, filling every quiet moment with energy—it felt like a missing piece had finally returned. The monastery felt alive again. Lighter.
Almost like before.
Almost.
That night, the monastery rested in silence.
The lanterns cast a soft glow along the wooden halls, shadows stretching across the walls. Outside, the wind whispered through the trees, gentle and calm.
Inside, everyone slept.
Or at least… they tried to.
Jay stirred in his bed.
At first, it was nothing more than a feeling.
A strange discomfort.
Like something wasn’t quite right.
His eyes slowly opened, staring up at the ceiling as his brow furrowed.
“…Something’s off,” he whispered.
A sharp sensation ran through his body—like electricity under his skin. Not painful, but wrong. Unfamiliar.
He tried to move his hand.
It responded… but not the way it should have.
Too slow.
Too distant.
Like it didn’t fully belong to him.
A flicker of panic rose in his chest.
“Okay… that’s not normal…”
Then, before he could fully process it—
He sat up.
Not because he chose to.
But because his body moved on its own.
Jay froze.
“No… no, wait…”
His voice came out strained as he tried to stop himself, but it didn’t matter.
His legs swung over the side of the bed.
He stood.
And started walking.
Each step felt wrong. Heavy. Controlled by something that wasn’t him.
Like he was trapped behind his own eyes, forced to watch.
“No, no, no—stop, stop—!”
But his body didn’t listen.
It kept going.
Out into the hallway.
The monastery was quiet, every sound echoing louder in the stillness. His footsteps felt too loud, too real, even though he wasn’t the one choosing them.
He tried to turn.
Tried to stop.
Nothing worked.
It felt like a nightmare.
One he couldn’t wake up from.
Then—
He stopped.
In front of a door.
Nya’s room.
His heart dropped.
“No…” he whispered, panic rising fast. “Not here. Not her…”
His hand lifted.
Slowly.
Unnaturally.
“No—please, don’t—!”
The door opened.
Inside, Nya was asleep, peaceful and unaware.
Jay stepped inside.
Each movement felt heavier than the last, like something was pushing him forward, dragging him closer.
Closer.
Closer.
Until he reached the bed.
His hands rose.
They trembled slightly, like some part of him was still fighting.
Still resisting.
But not enough.
They closed around her neck.
Gently at first.
Then tighter.
Nya’s eyes snapped open.
“Jay—?!” she gasped, immediately grabbing his wrists. “Jay, what are you doing?!”
Her voice cut through everything.
Like a shock.
Jay froze.
For a split second, everything went still.
Then something broke.
Control slammed back into him all at once.
His hands pulled away instantly, like he had been burned.
He stumbled backward, breathing hard, staring at his own hands in horror.
“What… what did I just do…?”
His voice trembled.
His chest tightened.
Tears filled his eyes before he could stop them.
“I didn’t mean to—I swear—I didn’t—” his words fell apart as he dropped to the ground, shaking. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”
Nya sat up quickly, still catching her breath, her heart racing.
For a moment, she just looked at him.
Really looked at him.
And what she saw wasn’t someone dangerous.
It wasn’t someone who wanted to hurt her.
It was Jay.
Terrified.
Broken.
Lost.
She moved without hesitation.
“Jay…” she said softly.
He didn’t look at her.
“I could have hurt you…” he whispered, his voice cracking under the weight of it. “What if I do it again? What if next time I don’t stop?”
Nya knelt in front of him, steady and calm despite everything.
“Hey,” she said gently, placing a hand on his arm. “Look at me.”
Slowly, reluctantly, he did.
“You didn’t hurt me,” she said. “And whatever that was… it wasn’t you.”
Jay shook his head, tears falling freely now. “But what if it is? What if I’m losing control?”
There was fear in his eyes.
Real fear.
Not just of what had happened—
But of what could happen.
Nya didn’t hesitate.
She leaned forward and pulled him into a tight hug.
Jay froze for a second, caught off guard.
Then slowly… he hugged her back.
Tighter than he expected.
Like he needed it.
“If it happens again,” she said softly, her voice steady and warm, “you tell me. And we’ll figure it out. Together.”
Jay’s grip tightened slightly.
“And besides,” she added with a small, reassuring smile, “I’m a ninja. I can handle myself.”
A weak laugh escaped him, mixed with a quiet sob.
“I’m serious…” he whispered. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t,” she said firmly. “Not alone.”
Her words settled into him.
Slowly.
Gently.
Like something grounding him again.
Jay took a shaky breath, wiping his tears as his breathing began to steady.
The panic didn’t disappear completely…
But it softened.
Because she was there.
And she wasn’t afraid of him.
She didn’t push him away.
She stayed.
And after everything they had been through… that meant more than anything.
They stayed like that for a while.
Sitting on the floor, holding onto each other in the quiet of the night.
No words.
Just presence.
Just understanding.
After years apart.
After everything they had lost… and found again.
This moment felt fragile.
Important.
Real.
And neither of them wanted to let go.